This piece focuses on creating a safe space for several subsets of the elementary school student population, including Muslim students, children with autism spectrum disorder, and students with social-emotional challenges. These groups do overlap and intersect, and they are united in their reliance on the library as a refuge. However, school…

"AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner." New standards for library media programs! What does it mean to practicing library media specialists? Does this mean they must abandon all the strategies, activities, and lessons they have developed based upon "Information Power's Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning" and create all new…

This paper takes a theoretical and practical approach in defining the "problem" of homelessness in libraries. The author examines three fundamental problems on homelessness. The three fundamental questions are: (a) Who are the homeless? (b) Why are they homeless? (c) What are their information needs in libraries? These questions are important in…

Public interest in domestic violence waxes and wanes with the headlines. This article describes how libraries can play an important--and even lifesaving--role in empowering abused women, providing useful resources for shelters and other agencies, and enlightening students and the general public about domestic violence.

An elementary school librarian initiated a survey of school librarians in Arizona to discover how they dealt with problems in scheduling classes in their media centers and developing curriculum to teach library skills. Results were used to support proposed changes to provide more flexible scheduling and increase teacher/librarian cooperation. (EM)

Discusses the content of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and how it will affect libraries, particularly public libraries, in the areas of employment and public accommodations. Weaknesses of the ADA are addressed, and librarians' roles in providing equal access use are emphasized. (14 references) (LRW)

Discusses three school activities--electronic messaging, problem solving, and database searching--that make use of computer telecommunications. Multipurpose services, equipment and software, training and support, low-cost start-up ideas, and the role of the library media center are also covered. Two recommended publications on telecommunication…

Describes methods that can be used to encourage appropriate behavior in school libraries and media centers. Creating policy statements is discussed; differences between policy and procedures and rules are explained; reprimands and disciplinary measures are suggested; and sample statements of policy, student responsibilities, and media center…

Identifies and defines categories of barriers that inhibit Environmental Education's growth and development in schools: conceptual, educational, attitudinal, and logistical. Expands on the implications of the barriers and a role for libraries in resolving these problems. (MCO)

This report on one of the activities of the Maine State Library Literacy Project, which was funded in 1986 through the Library Literacy Program, Title VI of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), presents discussions of literacy, adult new readers, literacy programs in libraries, serving adult new readers, selecting materials, and how…

Discusses recommendations from the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science for defining, developing, and promoting library media programs that teach information finding and using skills. Areas covered include helping students develop thinking skills, theoretical implications of current research on how children process information,…

Focuses on role of school library media programs in the fostering of lifelong learning and development of information skills. Highlights include information use and users, access, instruction, consulting, attitude problems, personnel and economic issues, planning and evaluating programs, education of library media specialists, and information…

Discusses recommendations on how social studies concepts should be presented to elementary and secondary school students so that broad understandings and problem-solving skills emerge. Intervention strategies that might be useful to library media specialists as they help teachers and students with resource-based units of instruction are described.…

This report of the events at the American Library Association annual conference summarizes presentations and debates on several social issues as well as a manifesto addressing social and ethical problems that was presented at the conference. A list of officers and awards is provided. (CLB)